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dragonfly62 Nilwood, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 16, 2009

This looks like a butterfly but was gathering pollen and covering all four legs. What is it?? BEV

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dragonfly62 Nilwood, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 16, 2009

Another view.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jul 16, 2009

Pretty sure it is a butterfly...member of the Lepidoptera (butterfly) family. They are great pollinators also.

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dragonfly62 Nilwood, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 16, 2009

I have never seen one in this part of the country. BEV

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 16, 2009

It's one of the few moths that fly during the day, probably an Eight-spotted Forester Alypia octomaculata.

http://www.nearctica.com/moths/noctuid/agarista/alypia_octomaculata.htm


http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/4647/

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gatortainer Newberry, FL Jul 16, 2009

What part of the country?
Moths have fury antennae, butterflies do not. Hard to make out that detail but it looks a little furry. Butterflies alight with wings closed above them, other than flexing, while moths alight with wings extended to the sides.
Oh, sorry I see...Il.


This message was edited Jul 16, 2009 2:38 PM

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 16, 2009

There are a few similar moths but I don't know if you'd see them in Illinois:

http://www.nearctica.com/moths/noctuid/agarista/genera/alypia.htm

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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Jul 16, 2009

We have the Eight Spotted Forester here in west KY. I thought it was a butterfly too, until I researched a bit. It is a moth.

Mine looks a lot like yours: http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/3743/

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